Lauri Kalanges, MD, MPH ’04, an alumna of the Online MPH in Public Health Practice program, was recently appointed as the Deputy Director of the Office of Family Health Services (OFHS), a position within the Virginia Department of Health located in Richmond, Virginia. She also serves as the Virginia Title V director, and was recently elected as a board member on the Association of Maternal Child Health Programs.

In her role as Deputy Director, Kalanges oversees an office with an annual operating budget of over $200 million and a staff of 240-plus workers. Her office services a full life course of programs, including Title V/Maternal Child Health, WIC/Summer Foods, PHHS, and 67 other grant programs.

“I work with a phenomenal team of professionals at all levels and this continues to be a tremendous learning opportunity,” says Kalanges. “I feel I am contributing to the greater good and public health of the Commonwealth.”

Prior to taking this position, Kalanges served as the Director of the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section within the Texas Department of State Health Services.

“I continue to feel extremely blessed for the many public health career opportunities I’ve had,” adds Kalanges, “and remain steadfast in my support and appreciation for my MPH from UMass Amherst.”